Amanda Aldridge on retail: Retail's public defender must pick his fights.(British Retail Consortium's Kevin Hawkins )

Over the past 12 months retail has probably had more media exposure than during any year I can remember. The Safeway battle dominated the broadsheets, while broadcast media looked at the British consumer's seemingly unquenchable thirst for more purchasing power. Food scares, obesity and convenience stores also did their bit to add to the growing media attention.

It is into the middle of this media maelstrom that Kevin Hawkins now strides. In taking up the mantle of director general of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this week, Hawkins knows many BRC members may judge him by how he fares in getting their message across in the media. He himself has not been slow to criticise …